Automatic mechanism for locking and releasing elevator-gates.



J. MUTTON.

AUTOMATIC MECHANISM FOR LOOKING AND RELEASING'ELEVATOR GATES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.9, I913- 1.,162',799. Patented Dec. 7, 1915.

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J. MUTTON.

AUTOMATIC MECHANISM FOR LOCKING AND RELEASING ELEVATOR GATES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.9. l9l3.

Patented Dec. 7, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

COL RAP co.. WASHINGTON. D. c,

TTTED @ATE8 PATENT FTQE.

JOHN MUTTON, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOB TO OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A CORCPQRATION OF NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC MECHANISM FOR LOCKING AND RELEASING ELEVATOR-GATES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 7,1915.

Application filed August 9, 1913. Serial No. 783,918.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN MUTTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Mechanism for Locking and Releasing Elevator-Gates, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic mechanism for locking and releasing elevator gates, and has for its objectthe provision of means for governing semiautomatic gates, fire doors, and the like, for elevator shafts.

My improvements are particularly applicable to vertically sliding and counterweighted gates, and will be described herein, in connection therewith, although it will be understood that the invention is not necessarily restricted to the details about to be set forth. These improvements are simpler and cheaper to construct than the devices of the prior art, such as shown, for example, in the patent to James Berry No. 309,757, Dec. 23, 1884, or to George A. Weld, No. 388,469, August 28, 1888.

Briefly referring to the embodiment of my invention, I may state that it comprises a spring-actuated sliding member which is controlled by a cam carried upon the elevator car. This member is provided with a latch adapted, in its extended position, to support the gate, when elevated, as long as the car remains at the corresponding floor. The said sliding member is also connected with a pivoted locking-bar which is adapted normally to retain the gate in its closed position and also check its descent when released by the aforesaid latch. These and other details will be explained in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein 2- Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical section, and Fig. 2 a fragmentary elevation of an elevator shaft, car and gate equipped with my improvement. Fig. 3 is an enlarged top view of my improved device. Fig. l is an enlarged side elevation, partially in section, of the same device, and Fig. 5 is a transverse section of line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Throughout the several figures of the drawings, the same character of reference has been employed to indicate similar parts.

At each floor-level, one of which is shown in the drawings, there is provided one of my improved locking and releasing devices, controllable by the elevator car, for autoinatically locking the gate either in its closed or open position and for releasing it from the latter position. Associated and movable with each car is a single cam a, which indirectly controls the said gate.

The locking and releasing mechanism proper, comprises a slidable bolt Z2 operating against a tension-spring 0, and having a roller cl upon one extremity which is adapted to be engaged by the cam a. The opposite extremity of the bolt 6 is provided with a removable pivoted trip 6. Said trip is recessed as indicated by the dotted lines, Fig. 4, so that it is adapted to secure the gate in its elevated position, although permitting the upward movement thereof, together with its arms h, 72.. The bolt or bar 6 preferably is flat or rectangular in crosssection and the coils of spring 0 fitting about the same, also are rectangular in transverse outline, so that the device is made extremely thin and occupies but little space at the side of the elevator shaft. Moreover, the spring will not collapse, but will act with diminished force, even though it be intermediately broken. There is also pivoted to the same extremity of the sliding bolt 6, adjacent to trip a, a locking-bar 7, which in turn is centrally pivoted within a bracket 7 mounted upon the boX-post g, at one side of the elevator gate g. The gate 9 is of the vertically sliding type and is partially counterweighted, so that it may be raised by the elevator-man, but will return automatically to its closed position, when released. Attached. preferably to the top-rail of gate 9, is an offset arm A, which normally lies adjacent to the lower end of the lockingbar and accordingly withholds the gate from being opened. Arm h, it will be observed, also lies in a plane to engage and displace the trip 6, upon the slid ng bolt 6 (when in extended position), and in consequence it also serves to hold the gate when raised to its elevated position, while the elevator car remains at a given floor and cam a forces the bolt 2) into its extended position. Immediately the car leaves said floor, however, bolt 1), together with the latch e are retracted by the spring, thereby releasing arm hf and permitting the gate 9 to fall to its closed and locked position. However, the locking-bar f is simultaneously restored to its normal or angular position and the gate in descent being partially retarded or checked by reason of the successive engagement of the arms 72/, h with the lower end of the arm 7.

vator shaft.

It will be readily appreciated, from the foregoing explanation, that my improved device is of the simplest character; requiring only a single locking and releasing appliance at each floor, opening upon the ele- The appliance also serves to relieve the shock of the descending gate, as Well as holding it in its open and closed positions. These results are attained primarily by the pivoted locking bar 7" which, alternatively with the pivoted latch e, positively locks the gate in its closed position after checking its descent; all of said parts being tensioned by a single special form of spring.

Having now explained the features of my improvement, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, the following 1. In a reversible bolt-appliance for elevator gates, the combination with a housing, of a flat bar slidably mounted therein, a

the combination with a frame, of a flattened bolt-member housed to slide longitudinally thereof, a spring thereon rectangular in transverse outline normally projecting one extremity of said bolt, and a trip and locking bar both pivotally mounted at the opposite extremity of said bolt, and a pivoted intermediate mounting for the locking bar, whereby its operative movement is made positive and alternative with that of the trip, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I do now atlix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN MUTTON. a 5.

l/Vitnesses J ANE CUR'rIs, ALBERT LYNN LAWRENCE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, I). G. 

